Building



K. F. OTTO Sept. 6, 1938.

BUILDING Filed Jan. 8, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 6, 1938.

K. F. oTTo IBUILDING Filed Jan. 8, 1936 vs sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 6, 1938y 1 I UNITED lSTAT-E1s PTENT BUILDING Karl F. Otto, Brookline, Pa. Application January 8, i936, Serial No. 58,205

7' .C laims. (Cl. 20-1) This invention relates to new and useful imhereinafter, and shown vin the accompanying provements in building construction and morel drawings, in which: particularly to the construction of buildings of Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a standard or the so-called pre-fabricated unit or sectional basic building unit or section made in accordtype. A ance with the present invention. 5 y The principal object of the present invention Fig. 2 is a view in section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. is to provide certain improvements in unit or Fig. 3 is a view in section on line 33, Fig. 1.. sectional building construction wherein buildings Fig. 4 is a view in section similar to Fig. 3

may be readily assembled where desired with the showing another or /modied form of section or use of relatively few different forms o'f sections, u nit. i

units or the like. f Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in sec- Another object of the invention is to provide a j tion horizontally'through a portion of a wall standard or basic unit or section, for use in the showing a window or door unit incorporated construction of buildings of the present character therein. which is of simple durable construction and relaj' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view'- in section vertil5 tively inexpensive to manufacture, because effeccally through a one-story building embodying the tive use may be made of "run of the tree and invention.

short length-unmarketable building stock as well Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view in section on line as synthetic sheathing, lining ,products and other- 'l-l, Fig. 6. L 0 wise waste material. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in section vertically 20 y Another object of the invention is "to provide through a building showing the adaptation oi' the j a sectional building construction wherein the `invention to a/building havin'g more than one component sectional units may be relatively infloorior story; and

terlocked with one another. to effect a substan'- Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View in section on line tially more rigid structure than heretofore. 9 9, Fig. 6. y 2li Another object of the invention is to provide Referring now to the drawings, reference nu-s .a standard or basic unit or section for use in the meral I designates generally a pre-fabricated construction of buildings which is pre-fabricated structural section or unit made in accordance and factory finished including doors and windows wit lthe present invention and used extensively completely fitted, hung and glazed and proyided/as all and partition members in the assembly or 30 with necessary hardware to permit relatively raperection of a building. As shown [in Figs. 1, 2 and id field assembly and completion/foi' early occu-fv 3 of the drawings, the units or sections l compancy, prise a frame or skeleton of rugged construction A fur/ther object of the invention is to provide a including top and bottom end members 2 and /sectional building of the character set forth which 3, upright or vertical side members t and 5A and 85 does not require the services of skilled labor to cross members or struts 6 extending horizontally 7, assemble andmay therefore be erected at a miniy between said vertic 1 side members 4 and 5 in mum cost. f substantially equall spaced relation with respect A further objectfof the invention is to provide to oooh other and Sad top and bottom en@ mem- 40 asectional building ofthe stated character which be 2 and 3f in interior partition units and at 40, may be erected in Vari us oor plans and Sizes; sill. and hea-d levels respectively in! exterior wall f "'ad'which when assembled maybe addedto from .umts,s0 that Wmqows and doors may be located time to time in accordance with the desires and therem at the Optmn afld desire 0f the Owner' needs of the'owner as regards room sizes and As shown the opposite Side faces of the frame or skeleton are respective surfaced or covered 45 increased accommodations as well as the appli cation of further decorative yand usefulembellish- Wlth Sect-mns o? panels of ply-Wood or other v f weather impervious material 'l and sections or ments thereto. panels of insulating material il such as fibre A" St111 furilhel obleo'fv of the invention is to board, sheet rock or the like, the ply-wood or like provide certain cnrnpanion sectionS'O-r units Such materia 1'i being used in instances where that .so

as iOOrIlg. Ceiling, IOOIlg and the like/'fOr 115 side of the unit or sectiony l faces externally of a with Standard O1 bE/lSiC SeCtODS in the elf/COH, 0f building and is exposed to the elementsof nature. a building. f It will be observed from the drawings that the Other objects of theinvention and the features surfacing panels or sections 'l and 8 completely and details of/ construction thereof are set forth enclose the spaces intermediate the component oli roof section 38 is secured to the beams 34', 36,

are disposed at an inclined angle with respect to said end beam members 34 and 31, said beams 31 being arranged for interlocking engagement with the corresponding end beam 31 of an oppositely inclined roof section 35 at the ridge line in the manner shown in Fig.v 6 of the drawings wherein certain of said end beam members 31 are provided with toes 39 arranged to engage the underside of. certain of said beam members 31 of Athe companion sections 35 and eliminate the necessity for the usual continuous ridge pole. As shown, the roof paneling or covering 38 of each section is offset with respect to the edges of the side beams 36a thereof, so as to provide a lap joint between adjacent roof sections. By providing the end beam members 28 of the ceiling sections 21 of substantially one-half thewidth of the grooves I2 in the upper ends of. the several wall and partition units, it will be observed by reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings, that when two end beams of adjacent sections are disposed in abutting relation, the depending portions thereof may be eifectively employed to snugly interlock with grooves I2 in the upper ends of several units I for erecting interior partitions, the bottom end grooves I4 being engaged by the shoes or runners 26 secured to the upper surface'of the flooring panels or sections 24 in the manner previously described and illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings.

Onthe other hand the side beam members 29 of the ceiling sections 21 which reside in the outer walls of a building are preferably of substantially the same width as the grooves I2 and I4 in the top and bottom ends of the several wall units and gable units Ic so that said beams snugly interlock with the top and bottom grooves thereof as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the grooves 12a in the top or upper ends of the gable units Ic being engaged by the outer side beams 36 of the4 roof units 35, so that said gable units may be interlocked between the ceiling sections 21 and said roof units 35 to effectively close the opening created by the oppositely inclined roof sections or units 35 and ceilings 21.

In lieuvof the standard or gable type of roof. structural units previously described, the invention may be adapted to the construction of units or sections for erecting a roof of the so-called hipped type, wherein the sections or units are constructed or fabricated in a manner similar to the previously described standard or gable roof sections but differ therefrom in that the former are shaped to the correct degree of. bevel and angle cut-01T at the interlocking hip line, which is of the same split construction as embodied at the ridge line intersection of the gable type roof units. In either ofthe foregoing types of roof construction, while the sheathing or paneling 38 shown and described is preferable for roof coverings of sheet metal and other roong lcompositions as wel] as asphalt and slate shingles, in the event that a wood shingle roong is chosen, it is preferable that spaced slats vbe substituted for the sheathing or paneling 38 in the initial construction of the several roof units.

The present invention may be employed with equal effectiveness in the erection of buildings having more than one floor level or story and while such a building is yerected in substantially the same manner as that previously described, certain dierences in structure are obviously necessary. Referring particularly to Fig. 8 of the drawings, combined ceiling and floor sections designated generally at 4I are provided and include a framework or skeletoncomposed of side beam members 42 and end beam'members 43 and 43a respectively as well as cross members 43h. The top and bottom faces of the combined units or sections 4I are covered by panels or sections of ply-wood or the like 44 and bre board or other like insulating material 45 respectively. In the present instance, the end beam 43 of said sections which resides in the outer wall structure of the building, is of substantially the same 'width as the grooves I2 in the upper ends of the several wall and partition units previously described so that the same will snugly interlock therewith, and the opposite end beam members 43a are of substantially one-half the Width of said grooves I2 so that both end beams 43a of abutting sections 4I will snugly engage the grooves I2 as shown to effectively interlock with the upper ends of several partition units.

The several wall and partition units for the second or other upper story of the building are interlocked with the combined floor and' ceiling sections 4I by means of shoe or runner members 45 secured to the upper surface of the floor panels 44 much in the same manner that the lower ends of the wall and partition units of the first oor or story are interlocked with oor sections 20, said runner members 46 conforming to the outline ofthe floor plan of said upper story and having rounded or beveled upper corner edges or slightly tapered sides to facilitate engagement thereof with the grooves I4 in the lower ends of the several Wall and partition units, so as to snugly engage the same in the manner illustrated. After the several wall and partition units of the upper story are erected in the foregoing manner, ceiling and roof units 21 and 35 respectively may be interlocked with the grooves I2 in the upper ends thereof in the manner previously described to complete said building.

In the event that the floor plan of the building calls for the erection of interior partitions at locations therein other than alongthe line of abutment of adjacent end frame members 28 and 43a of the ceiling units 21 and 4I respectively, shoes or runners 41 may be secured to the sheathing panels 3l and 45 respectively of said units for the purpose of engaging the grooves I2 in the upper end edges of appropriate partition units I to secure the latter in the desired position in the manner shown, in Fig., 8 of the drawings. Similarly, in instances where the outermost units of the several interior partitions abut units disposed in the exterior walls of a building, the same may be relatively interlocked by securing shoes or runners 48 vertically to the sheathing panels 8 of said exterior wall units for the purpose of engaging the groove I3 in the adjacent side edges of said outermost partition units.

The facings or surface panels of the several wall and partition units as Well as the companion floor, ceiling and roof units herein described may be provided with factory punched apertures or holes (not. shown) disposed at substantially equally spaced intervals closely adjacent the perpheries of said units for the reception of nails, screws or the like, to secure the component units together in interlocking relation. However, during erection of a building, the several structural units need only be secured or fastened together at strategic points until the building is enclosed against the elements of nature, after which the fastening may be completed. It will be seen from the foregoing description therefore, that the novel construction of the several wall and partition and companion units or sections herein disclosed permits the erection of a building which is extremely rugged and may be firmly assembled in a manner that does,not require the services of skilled labor.

The foregoing description has been restricted, to the construction and assembly of units or sections which are complete including surface sheathing and panel. However, for the purpose of reducing unit weight and bulk size, it may be desirable in certain instances to furnish said structural units or sections in a knocked down or unassembled state, the component elements of which, however, would be pre-cut to the desired dimensions and pattern and suitably marked for assembly in the eld under the present so-called ready-cut procedure.

As will be observed by referring to the drawings, the cross members or struts 23 and 30 respectively of the floor and ceiling units 20 and 21 are of less height than the end and side beam members thereof and are secured in relatively spaced relation with respect to the surface paneling or sheathing to provide openings for the passage of Wiring for electricity as well as pipes for gas, water and the like, and while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of description, it is not intended that the invention be precisely limited thereto but that mod'ications and changes in the details of construction thereof may be incorporated within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a building of the character described, a plurality of wall and partition units having grooves in the top end edges thereof, a ceiling structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, certain of the side and end frame members of said ceiling units being disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of said wall and partition units, and a roof structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, the outer endframe members of oppositely positioned roof units being also disposed within said grooves in the top end edges of the. several wall units in at least two opposite exterior walls of the building.

2. In a building of the character described, a

plurality of wall and partition units disposed vertically with their side edges in respectively abutting relation and having grooves in the top end edges thereof, means forming a part of certain of said wall and partition units for interlockingly engaging adjacent wall and partition units to secure the same together, means interlockingly. engaging portions of other wall and partition units along their adjacent side edges to secure the same together, a ceiling structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame membersI and sheathing panels, certain of the side and end frame members of said ceiling units being disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the wall and partition units, and a roof structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, the outer end frame members of oppositely positioned roof units being also disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the several wall units in at least two opposite exterior walls of the building.

3. In a building ofV the character described, a

end frame members of oppositely positioned roof units being also disposed within said grooves in the top end edges of the several wall units in at least two opposite exterior walls of the building, and other wall units having grooves in the top and bottom end edges thereof disposed intermediate said ceiling and roof structures in opposite exterior walls of the building with the outermost side frame members of the extreme ceiling and roof units disposed within. said grooves in the bottom and top end edges respectively of said last-'mentioned other wall units.

4. In a building of the character described, a floor structure, a plurality of wall and partition units disposed vertically on said floor structure and having grooves in the top and bottom end edges thereof, means on the surface of the floor structure disposed within the grooves in the bottom end edges of said wall and partition units to secure the same in predetermined positions on said floor structure, a ceiling structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, certain of the side and end frame members of said ceiling units being disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the wall and partition units, and a roof structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, the outer end frame members of oppositely disposed roof units being also disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the several Wall units in at least two opposite exterior walls of the building.

5. In a building of the character described, a floor structure, a plurality of wall and partition units disposed vertically on said floor structure and having grooves in the top and bottom end edges thereof, means on the surface of the oor structure disposed within the grooves in the bottom end edges of said wall and partition units to secure the same in predetermined positions on said floor structure, a ceiling structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, certain of the side and end frame members of said ceiling units being disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the wall and partition units, a roof structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, the outer end frame members of oppositely disposed roof units being also disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the several wall units in at least two opposite'V with their side edges in respectively abutting relation and having grooves inthe top and bottom end edges thereof, means on the surface of the floor structure disposed within the grooves in the bottom end edges" of said wall andpartition units to secureyjthel same in predetermined positions on said floor structure,.means forming a part of-'certain of said wall and partition units for interlockingly engaging adjacent wall and partition units to secure the same together, means inter-engaging portions of other wall and partition Vunits along their adjacent side edges to secure the same together, a ceiling structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side iframe members and sheathing panels, certain of the side and end frame members o! said ceiling units being disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the wall and partition units, and a roof structure comprising a'plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels. theouter end frame members of oppositely positioned roof units being also disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of the several wall units in at least two opposite exterior walls of the building with the inner` adjacent end frame members thereof interlocked with each other.

7. In a building.; of the character described, a plurality of 'wall and partition units having grooves at least in the top end edges thereof. a

--roof structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, the outer end frame members of oppositely positioned roof units being disposed within the top endl` edges of the sideand end frame members in at least two opposite exterior walls of the building, and a ceiling structure comprising a plurality of units each including end and side frame members and sheathing panels, certain of the side and end frame members being also disposed within the grooves in the top end edges of said wall and partition units to support the latter against outward displacement due to roof thrust.`

KARL F. OTI'O. 

